NEWBERG, Ore. --- George Fox University's men's and women's track and field team will head to Spokane, Washington, April 21-22 looking to bring home the 2017 Northwest Conference track and field championships in both divisions.

Whitworth was able to sweep both titles in 2016, as the Pirates narrowly edged the Bruins' men's team by a score of 187 to 181.5. This season, the women's team is the only NWC team in the Top 25 at No. 13 in the nation, while the men are No. 25. The Bruins are the only team in the NWC to have both teams ranked in the Top 25. When it comes to the West Region, the Bruins' men are ranked No. 1, while the women are ranked No. 2.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to go up and compete against the best teams in the conference and see how things shake out," said head coach John Smith. "It has been another fun and exciting season for the track team, and I feel very confident that each individual will go out and compete to the best of their abilities and come out knowing they gave it their best on that day."

The Bruin women have 38 competing at the NWC track and field championships with over 60 different events represented by George Fox.

Sarah King, a sophomore from Carlton, Oregon, is set to compete in the 400m, 400m hurdles, and 4x400m relay is currently No. 22 in the nation in the women's 400m. She also ranks at No. 14 in the nation in the 400m hurdles, and No. 12 with her teammates in the 4x400 relay. King is the defending 400m and 400m hurdles champion.

Asia Greene, a senior from Portland, Oregon, is the only Bruin on the women's side to compete in four different events. Greene will participate in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the long jump. She is currently No. 18 in the nation in the 100m and No. 3 in the nation in the long jump. Greene is the defending champion in the women's long jump.

Annie Wright, a sophomore from Granite Bay, California, will compete in three events after already winning the women's heptathlon at the NWC Combined Events. She is No. 24 in the javelin and has the third best mark in the women's heptathlon with 4,689 points.

Dakota Buhler, a junior from McMinnville, Oregon, finished second in the women's heptathlon at the NWC Combined Events and will compete in three events. She is set to take on the 100m hurdles, long jump and triple jump. She is No. 17 in the nation in the long jump and No. 11in the nation in the triple jump. Her finish at the NWC Combined Events of 4,219 points is No. 9 in the nation.

Maci Jokumsen, a sophomore from Grants Pass, Oregon, leads the NWC in the 10,000m. She is also set to run in the 5,000m. She is No. 30 in the nation in the 10,000m.

Kylie Weatherford, a senior from Kuna, Idaho, is the crowd favorite in the women's pole vault with a conference leading mark. She will also run in the women's 4x400m relay. Weatherford is currently No. 12 in the nation in the pole vault.

Meanwhile, on the men's side, the Bruins have 41 athletes set to compete at the NWC track and field championships with over 60 events being represented.

Alex Canchola looks to be a force again for the Bruins. Canchola, a junior from Oregon City, Oregon, was named the NWC Field Athlete of the Meet in 2016 for winning the decathlon, long jump and triple jump. This season, Canchola earned his second straight victory at the NWC Combined Events in the decathlon with 6,390 points to move to No. 7 in the nation. He is set to compete in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and javelin throw.

Vernon Lott, a junior from San Antonio, Texas, is the second Bruin on the men's side to compete in four different events. Lott will take part in 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.

Christian Parr, a junior from Aurora, Oregon, is set to run in the 800m and 1500m for the Bruins. He holds the second fastest times in both events in the NWC.

Chris Polk, a sophomore from Long Beach, California, will run in the 800m and 4x400m relay. He leads the NWC in the 800m and is No. 28 in the nation.

Caleb Dalzell, a sophomore from Gresham, Oregon, has had a stellar season for the Bruins. Dalzell leads the NWC in two of his three events he is set to compete in. He will take on the shot put, discus throw and hammer throw. He holds the 14th best throw in the nation in the discus and 20th best mark in the shot put.

Seth Nonnenmacher, a junior from Burns, Oregon, is the clear favorite in the javelin throw with the nation's best mark of 226-9.

Jacoby Wolfe, a sophomore from Newberg, Oregon, holds the NWC's best mark in the high jump and is No. 10 in the nation at 6-8.75.

"I am very proud of the individuals on this team who have stepped outside themselves and made an effort to encourage those alongside them," added Smith. "If you look at who are top scorers/finishers will be at the meet, they are all invested in their teammates and represent the GFU track team model of "family" extremely well. Both the men's and women's team have a great shot at a conference championship, and we will no doubt chase after that goal this weekend. This is an exciting time in Bruin Track history, and we are honored to carry on the legacy of those that came before us."